THE STORY
Reported Haunting
The historic Haig Point Lighthouse is associated with the ghost tradition of Maggie Comer and reports of rocking chairs moving by themselves, phantom honeysuckle, unexplained lights and noises, and strange activity involving doors and locks.
Built in 1873 on Daufuskie Island, the Haig Point Lighthouse served as the rear light of a range-light system guiding vessels through Calibogue Sound. Its best-known ghost tradition centers on Maggie Comer, daughter of the first lighthouse keepers. Romantic versions of the legend claim Maggie died young after losing a lover or from illness, but historical research shows that the real Maggie later married, helped raise her sister's children and lived until 1930. The inaccurate tragedy nonetheless developed into a long-running lighthouse ghost story. Visitors, residents and restoration workers have reported empty rocking chairs moving without an obvious cause, the unexplained scent of honeysuckle, mysterious lights and noises, unusual door or lock activity and other strange occurrences. Stories from the 1980s restoration also describe workers becoming convinced that a spirit objected to the construction until they explained that the lighthouse was being preserved. Haig Point is a private community, and access to the lighthouse should be through authorized visits, events or lodging arrangements.